Part 9/11:
The Bigger Picture: Did Disney Get Value for Money?
When all is said and done, the initial purchase price of $4.05 billion seems difficult to recover solely through theatrical releases. Even with additional revenue from merchandise (which has since declined), streaming rights, and theme park attractions—such as Galaxy's Edge and plans for a Star Wars-themed hotel—the empire's financial return remains uncertain.
In fact, Disney spent billions more on theme park expansions and related merchandise efforts, many of which have not performed as well as hoped. Notably, projects like the Star Wars hotel and some merchandise lines have underwhelmed financially, contributing to the notion that the company may have over-invested in the franchise.